Neeraj Chopra Wins The First Gold Medal In Athletics.

Neeraj Chopra made history at the Tokyo Olympics 2021, this evening, winning the gold medal in Javelin. Subedar Neeraj Chopra, VSM was recruited by the Army as part of its Mission Olympics Program.

What is Mission Olympics Program of the Indian Army?

Launched in 2001, Mission Olympics aimed at identifying and grooming youngsters into potential Olympic medal winners. The entire programme is an elaborate process of creating international facilities, scientific back up hiring of the best coaches including foreign nationals and consistent monitoring of the athletes.

 

Indian Army has identified 10 disciplines, in which it believes India stands a chance to win a medal. These are :- 

      * Athletics

      * Diving

      * Archery

      * Weightlifting

      * Boxing

      * Rowing

      * Sailing

      * Wrestling

      * Equestrian and 

      * Shooting.

The Army has created a massive sports complex in Pune where 200 athletes can reside and train on Olympic-standard facilities. Army Sports Nodes are also being set up at 10 places for the 10 disciplines.

Some training facilities of the Olympics hopeful of the Army include :-

Meerut, where a 260 acre sprawling campus of the Army Equestrian Centre is spread. It is the only training centre of the world which has the facility for horse racing.

At Mhow, Practice session for shooters aiming for Olympics is at its peak at the Army Marksman Unit. 

The Army Yachting Node is located at Bombay. It has been giving sailing lessons to the participants who would be struggling to win an Olympic medal.

In the city of Pune, the weight lifters are trained to be able to qualify for a national/international level competitions.

Other facilities include the Army Sports Institute at Pune, where personnel are trained for athletics, archery, boxing, diving, weightlifting, wrestling and fencing.

As evident, the Indian Army has laid out the road map for a concerted vision for maximum Qualifications for the Olympics with the aim of 'finishing strong' at the podium with medals for the country.

The Army is already recruiting young athletes to the post of a Havildar, as motivation, who have performed well in junior and sub-junior levels.

Neeraj Chopra's achievements thus far :-

2016       Junior World Championships. Gold.

2017       Asian Championships. Gold.

2018       Commonwealth Games. Gold.

2021       Tokyo Olympics. Gold.

     

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. A thoroughly wet day!

Went by Kannan's auto rickshaw, by about 1100 hrs, to town to do quite a few jobs. 

Participated in the Aazhchakkoottam : "Ramayana and Kerala" by Kummanam Rajasekharan, ex Governor of Mizoram from 1600 to 1715 hrs. It will be redone as we lost connection with Kummanam, in between, due to inclement weather.